Who else is bothered by the cashier at Target that won't scan pork products?

Question

because she thinks it is against her religion? She is muslim. I understand that her religion forbids her to eat pork and that is her right. I understand that her religion might forbid her to touch pork as they believe it is "unclean". But nobody is asking her to handle raw or unwrapped pork products. What would happen to our world if Jews refused to handle un kosher products? Hindus refused to handle beef? No more beef jeky at the quickie mart!

http://www.startribune.com/535/story/1061103.html

I'm a Christian but I'm also an American where we have the right to practice our own religion, which should not trample on the rights of others. My position is if you take a job knowing that you may be put in position to compromise your religious beliefs then you you should not complain. Else, find something else to do.

Answer 1

If this person was hired at a Target that did not carry pork food products at the time of her hiring, Target needs to reassign her to duties that don't require her to handle pork products.

If she took the job knowing that it was a requirement, it is up to Target to handle it as they will - reassign her, let her go, whatever.

In any case, when being interviewed, any of us who have religious requirements or religious prohibitions must make these known during the applicaiton/interview process.


It seems that Target is being accomodating in such matters:

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/16926961.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

But surely there ought to be some sort of guilde for this kind of situation - I understand that there is a certain amount of disagreement - at the least the article cirted above says only that "SOME Muslims feel selling or handling pork is also forbidden because it would make them complicit in the sins of others" (emphasis mine). So it would be a very good thing if a number if Imams could write up stuff like that for the Human Resources people.

Answer 2

She took a job in a grocery department knowing that in the US that will mean coming into contact with pork products. If she took her religion that seriously she should have stated up front that she would not handle pork goods, which by the way is not forbidden by the Koran, only eating pork products is forbidden. Besides, she does not come into contact as all meat products are shrink wrapped at Target. This is just a bit of whining by her. If she cannot or will not do the job she was hired to do, she should be terminated.

Answer 3

If it is offensive to her religion, then she has every right to not do it. It is surely not causing that much of a problem. I'm sure another cashier can come over and handle the pork purchases. Just because you don't understand where she's coming from does not mean that she has no right to live according to her own conscience.

She would be wise to change jobs though, now that she realizes that this job requires something that is against her faith. I am a Hindu, and I would not take a job selling alcohol or beef (or any meat) because I wouldn't be comfortable with that, unless I had to take such employment to survive or something. But if you have to have the job to survive, you just have to do the things that are required and believe it is justified on account of your circumstances.

So, I think she should be respected for her beliefs, but she really ought to get a different job.

Answer 4

Title Seven of the Civil Right Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating because of religion in hiring, firing and other terms & conditions of employment in a company with 15 or more employees.

That said, her rights not to handle pork because it is against her religion is protected under the United States Government.

Title Seven also states that employers must reasonably accomandate an employees sincerely held religious belief unless it causes hardship for the employer. So, given the size of Target, if she sincerely believes even handling any raw pork product packaged or not is against her religion, they have to give her that right because it does not cause them hardship when they have plenty other cashiers.

EDIT: I show the correct law corresponding to this and yet I get thumbs down.. perhaps because I don't agree and prefer to see things to the letter of secular law. Well remember this (and I see in your given examples you did not include christians) that if a christian refused to work on Sunday because that was against their religion the EEOC would protect that right too.

Answer 5

Right on. What is next ? They won't wait on us, because they think we are infidels ?? This is ridiculous and I think Target should put workers like this in the storage room, to un-load trucks. I know a Muslim clerk who works at a store and she is so nice.. Each one , must have a hang-up of their own. So sad and too bad. We must not let this happen in America. Already the picking out process.

Answer 6

I cany say Ive heard of this until now, but if Target was smart they would fire her for refusing to perform the duties of her job. I agree you can believe what you want, but you need to find work that goes along with your beliefs. If you are against the sale of pork, dont work someplace that sells it

Answer 7

It is inexcusable to take a job where you know up front that you will not be able to do a necessary portion of the job.

This cashier could easily have found a job at a clothing store or computer store or any other sort of store where pork products did not enter into the picture.

I feel that she should be fired -- not because of her religion, but because of her refusal to perform basic tasks of her job description.

Answer 8

I would just find a different cashier.

People make drama out of the silliest and NOSIEST things.

Really. Have you nothing else to complain about but this?

Move on!

Target should talk to her and reassign her to a department that would better fit. Or, if there are no options she might have to choose not to be employed. Firing is not a good option and opens the door to hostility.

Answer 9

Yeah, I'm against that. She shouldn't be able to refuse to do that and still keep her job. I also don't think pharmacists should have the right to deny someone plan b because it's against their "morals." If you're personal convictions prevent you from being able to do your damn job, seek another line of work.

Answer 10

Don't have that problem out here in the boondocks. Most people around here have a couple pigs tied up in the yard.